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| United States Patent |
5,320,277
|
|
Stout
, et al.
|
June 14, 1994
|
Article carrier reinforcing structure
Abstract
An article carrier having bottom, top, side and end walls interconnected to
form an enclosure of rectilinear configuration and having a pair of spaced
apart hand hole openings formed in the top wall includes a reinforcing
strip secured to the inner surface of the top wall and between the hand
hole openings. End extensions which may or may not be adhered project from
each end of the reinforcing strip and are folded into flat face contacting
relation with the end walls respectively and are secured thereto. The fold
lines between the end extensions and the cooperating end edges of the
reinforcing strip are debossed so as to protrude inwardly and mate with a
complementary embossed area which is encased by torque relief slits
thereby reducing the tension along the outer surfaces of the fold lines
between the top wall and the end walls so as effectively to strengthen the
load bearing elements of the carrier top wall.
| Inventors:
|
Stout; James T. (Ellijay, GA);
Demaio; James B. (Marietta, GA)
|
| Assignee:
|
The Mead Corporation (Dayton, OH)
|
| Appl. No.:
|
089710 |
| Filed:
|
July 9, 1993 |
| Current U.S. Class: |
229/117.13; 229/242; 229/920 |
| Intern'l Class: |
B65D 005/46 |
| Field of Search: |
229/40,117.13,242-244,920,DIG. 4
206/427
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
| 2276363 | Mar., 1942 | Zalkind | 229/DIG.
|
| 2474523 | Jun., 1949 | Guyer | 229/920.
|
| 2681143 | Jun., 1954 | Guyer | 206/427.
|
| 2797856 | Jul., 1957 | Jaeschke | 229/117.
|
| 2911136 | Nov., 1959 | Stone | 229/117.
|
| 3076591 | Feb., 1963 | Nute et al. | 229/117.
|
| 3904036 | Sep., 1975 | Forrer | 206/427.
|
| 3994432 | Nov., 1976 | Kirby, Jr. | 206/427.
|
| 4304332 | Dec., 1981 | Danti | 206/427.
|
| 4331289 | May., 1982 | Killy | 206/427.
|
| 4396143 | Aug., 1983 | Killy | 206/427.
|
| 4577799 | Mar., 1986 | Oliff | 206/427.
|
| 4679725 | Jul., 1987 | Wilson | 229/117.
|
| Foreign Patent Documents |
| 2206564 | Jan., 1989 | GB | 229/117.
|
Primary Examiner: Elkins; Gary E.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Rodgers & Rodgers
Claims
We claim:
1. An article carrier comprising bottom, top, side and end walls each
having an inner surface interconnected to form an enclosure in which said
top wall includes load bearing elements in which adjacent parts of said
end walls are associated with said top wall, a pair of spaced apart hand
hole openings are formed in said top wall, a reinforcing strip having
cooperating end edges secured to the inner surface of said top wall and
between said hand hole openings, fold lines between said top and end
walls, end extensions projecting from each of said cooperating end edges
of said reinforcing strip and folded along fold lines into flat face
contacting relation with said inner surfaces of the adjacent end walls
respectively and secured thereto, the tension between the outer surfaces
of the fold lines between said end extensions and the cooperating end
edges of said reinforcing strip having debossed channels and the adjacent
inner surface of each carrier end wall having an embossed channel having
an inner end and embossed areas of a lesser width than said debossed
reinforcing channel so as to protrude inwardly and interact with torque
relief slits thereby reducing the tension along the outer surfaces of said
fold lines so as effectively to strengthen the load bearing elements of
the carrier top wall.
2. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the width of said
embossed channel is approximately 1/8 of an inch.
3. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the width of said
debossed channel is approximately 3/16 of an inch.
4. An article carrier according to claim 2 wherein the first torque relief
slit (42) is disposed astride the fold line between said top wall and said
end wall and the second torque relief slit (43) is disposed adjacent the
inner end of said embossed channel.
5. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein said embossed areas
include inner ends and which are formed at the fold lines between the ends
of said reinforcing strip and said end extensions respectively and wherein
the inner ends of said embossed areas are disposed adjacent the short
torque relief slit disposed astride the fold lines between said top and
end walls respectively.
6. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein the width of said
embossed areas is the larger of said embossed areas and wherein the pair
of torque relief slits are formed in said top wall and in adjacent parts
of the associated end walls and closely adjacent said embossed areas.
7. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein said debossed areas of
said end extensions of said reinforcing strip are the largest in width of
said channels and wherein a pair of end torque relief slits are formed
adjacent the ends of said embossed and debossed areas and astride the fold
lines between said top wall and said end walls respectively.
8. A first sheet of paperboard having a debossed channel, a second sheet of
paperboard having an embossed channel width is of comparable size and
configuration to said embossed channel of said first sheet and said
channels having mating surfaces.
9. A combination of paperboard sheets defined in claim 8 wherein a third
sheet of paperboard having an embossed channel of different dimensions
than the dimensions of said mating surfaces may overly but not mate with
said mating surfaces.
10. First and second sheets of paperboard according to claim 8 wherein a
third sheet of embossed paperboard is characterized by a smaller degree of
embossment than claim 8.
11. The combination of claim 8 wherein a pair of transverse torque relief
slits are disposed adjacent the ends of said mating surfaces.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to hand carried article carriers and is
particularly concerned with the construction of hand gripping apertures
and related reinforcing means.
BACKGROUND ART
U. S. Pat. No. 2,849,112 issued Aug. 26, 1958 discloses a can carrier of
the wrap around type in which the can chimes both top and bottom are
arranged so as to reside in slits formed in the top and bottom edges of
both side walls. Chimed cans under adverse conditions may tear the end
corners of the carrier and thus effectively destroy the package. A pair of
spaced scores are formed astride an inwardly folded panel and form
embossments which reinforce the carrier at the upper and lower corners
thereof at both ends of the carrier.
U. S. Pat. No. 2,872,036 issued Feb. 3, 1959 discloses a paperboard wrap
around carrier for cans having inwardly folded reinforcing strips disposed
about the end edges of the carrier and in which parallel double score
lines are formed at the carrier corners which are out of alignment with
the packaged can chimes and which thereby serve to strengthen the carrier.
U. S. Pat. No. 2,933,867 issued Apr. 26, 1960 includes an incidental
disclosure of short slits formed at the top and bottom end corners of the
carrier which serve to prevent tearing of the carrier structure due to the
fact that these small slits are disposed in transverse relation to the
carrier corners and close to the ends of the wrapper both top and bottom.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to this invention in one form, an article carrier having bottom,
top, side and end walls interconnected to form an enclosure of rectilinear
configuration includes a pair of spaced apart hand hole openings formed in
the top wall. A reinforcing strip is secured to the inner surface of the
top wall between the hand hole openings and includes end extensions
projecting from each end of the reinforcing strip and folded into flat
face contacting relation with the end walls respectively and secured
thereto. The fold lines between the end extensions and the cooperating end
edges of the reinforcing strip are embossed so as to protrude inwardly
thereby to reduce the tension and the tendency for rupture to occur along
the outer surfaces of the fold lines between the end extensions of the
reinforcing strip and the part of the reinforcing strip which is secured
to the carrier top walls so as effectively to strengthen the load bearing
elements of the carrier.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings,
FIG. 1 is a plan view from the inside of a carrier blank formed according
to this invention;
FIG. 2 shows a reinforcing strip 26 in dotted lines and folded into flat
face contacting relation with the top wall panel 18a and with the side
wall 12 and parts associated therewith folded upwardly and toward the left
along fold line 13 so as to occupy the position represented by FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is a view of the carrier in completed but collapsed condition; and
FIG. 4 is simply a set up perspective view of a carrier formed according to
the blank of FIG. 1.
This invention is concerned with embossing the fold line between the
portion of a reinforcing strip secured to the inner surface of the top
wall and foldably joined to the outwardly extended projection secured to
the end wall. This embossed structure may take several forms according to
this invention as shown in fragmentary FIGS. 5A, 5, 6, 7 and 8. These
embossments may be enhanced in effectiveness if short slits SS are used as
indicated.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
With reference to FIG. 1, the numeral 1 designates the bottom wall of the
carrier. Bottom end flap 2 is foldably joined to a end edge of bottom wall
1 along fold line 3. Bottom end flap 4 is foldably joined to bottom wall 1
along fold line 5.
Side wall 6 is foldably joined to a side edge of bottom wall 1 along fold
line 7. A side end flap 8 is foldably joined to side wall 6 along fold
line 9. Side end flap 10 is foldably joined to side wall 6 along fold line
11.
At the other end of the blank, side wall 12 is foldably joined to bottom
wall 1 along fold line 13. Side end flap 14 is foldably joined to side
wall 12 along fold line 15. Side wall flap 16 is foldably joined to side
wall 12 along fold line 17.
The top wall of the carrier according to this invention is formed of parts
located at opposite ends of the blank shown in FIG. 1. Top wall panel 18
is foldably joined to side wall 6 along a fold line 19. Top end flap 20 is
foldably joined to an end edge of top wall panel 18 along fold line 21.
Portions of a tear strip formed in part in top wall panel 18 and in part
in top end flap 20 are designated by the numeral 22. At the other end of
top wall panel 18 top end flap 23 is foldably joined to top wall panel 18
along fold line 24. A tear strip 25 is formed in part in top end flap 23
and in part in top wall panel 18.
A hand hole aperture 27 is formed in top wall panel 18 and is of well known
construction.
The top panel 18a at the opposite end of the blank from top panel 18 is
identical to panel 18 in all respects except that reinforcing strip 26 is
foldably joined to panel 18a along fold line 26c. This reinforcing strip
has an end portion 26a at one end and a similar end portion 26b at the
other end. The numerals used in connection with top panel 18a are
duplicates of the numerals used in connection with top panel 18 except for
the addition of the suffix a. The top end flaps associated with top wall
panel 18a are designated by the numerals 20a and 23a. Tear strip 22a and
tear strip 25a designate the tear strips similar to those at the opposite
end of the blank.
An application of glue is made to reinforcing strip 26 and to its end
portions 26a and 26b. The strip 26 and its ends are then folded up and to
the left along fold line 26c and side wall 12 and elements associated
therewith are folded up and to the left along fold line 13. The structure
with 26, 26A, 26B shown as dotted lines then appears as shown in FIG. 2.
Glue is then applied to top panel 18 and to end panels 20 and 23 and these
panels are folded toward the right along fold line 19. The carrier then
appears in completed collapsed condition as shown in FIG. 3.
When the carrier is set up it appears as shown in FIG. 4.
One condition which tends to weaken the overall handle structure is
attributed to the fact that the reinforcing strip such as indicated by the
numeral 26 is arranged with its end portions 26a and 26b folded
downwardly. This downward folding places a substantial stress along the
line of fold and on the outer surfaces of the fold lines between the major
part 26 of the reinforcing strip and its end parts 26a and 26b. The
principal purpose of this invention is to minimize or to eliminate the
tendency for excessive stress to be placed at the points indicated at S
and S1 as best shown in FIG. 1. In order to minimize the stress due to
folding of the reinforcing strip, the reinforcing strip is debossed by
causing a narrow channel such as parts designated 40 and 40A to be formed
in a debossed fashion. This embossment then effectively removes from the
points of stress a considerable amount of material which thus
substantially limits and may eliminate altogether the tendency for the
reinforcement strip and related adhered structures to become weakened at
stress points such as S and S1 where the end portions 26a and 26b of the
reinforcing strip are folded downwardly at approximately 90 degrees to the
main body of the strip 26.
FIGS. 5 and 5A show the application of the invention to a top end of a
carton and depict an inner layer 26 and 26B adjacent to a debossed channel
40. A middle layer 18A and 23A adjacent to an embossed channel 41 and an
outer layer 18 and 23 adjacent to fold line 24 which is associated with
stress point S. As explained these elements greatly enhance the carton
strength and are of general application beyond the specific use of the
invention as applied to a carton such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The width
of the embossed channel is approximately 1/8 inch and of the debossed
channel is approximately 3/16 inch.
FIGS. 4, 6 and 8 show a fragment of a carton blank including reinforcement
strip 26 foldably joined to top panel 18aand includes torque relief slits
42, 43 and 44.
The term torque relief slits denotes parallel slits which isolate the build
up of material in areas such as S and S1 best shown on FIG. 4 from areas
outside the area between the parallel slits.
FIG. 7 shows the reinforcing strip 26 and 26a after they are folded into
contact with top panel 18a and end wall panel 23a.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 but shows torque relief slits or cuts
42, 43 and 44. All of the short slits shown in the drawings are torque
relief slits. Only slits 40, 43 and 44 are identified with numerals.
As is shown in FIG. 6 the width of the embossed areas is greater than other
embossments and a pair of torque relief slits 42 and 43 are formed in the
top wall and in adjacent parts of the associated end walls.
The debossed areas 40 and 40A of the end extension 26a and 26b of the
reinforcing strip are the largest width of the channels. Also torque
relief slits are formed adjacent the ends of embossed and debossed areas
and are disposed astride the fold line between the top and end walls of
the carton.
As is clear from FIG. 5A, the mating channels 40 and 41 may be associated
with a third sheet of paperboard having an embossed channel 24 which may
not mate with channels 40 and 41.
Also the third sheet of paperboard 18 and 23 is characterized by a smaller
degree of embossment.
A pair of torque relief slits 42, 43 and 44 are disposed adjacent the ends
of embossed and debossed mating surfaces.
In FIG. 5 the dimensions B are shown. These measurements must be at least
as long as distance A shown in FIG. 5A.
This invention is well suited for use with medium to heavy caliper
paperboard.
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